FLUID HANDLING AND DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM

A system for handling and distributing fluid is disclosed, which system is particularly useful for handling and distributing coating materials utilized in applying a thin metallic oxide coating to the outer surface of glass containers. The system includes readily accessible and replaceable bulk storage, preferably including a plurality of receptacles such as storage barrels, which receptacles are caused to selectively and successively supply fluid (which fluid may be chemicals such as titanium tetrachloride, tetraisopropyl titanate, or tin tetrachloride, for example, where a metallic oxide coating is to be applied to a newly formed glass container) to a reservoir which in turn has the fluid pumped therefrom and supplied to a remotely located master tank. The master tank is connected to the reservoir in a manner to maintain a substantially constant fluid level therein, and level monitoring apparatus is provided in the master tank. One or more slave tanks are connected with the master tank and each is maintained at a predetermined fluid level with respect to the master tank. Each slave tank is preferably adjacent to and is connected with a utilization station, which station is an article coating station where newly formed glassware is to be coated with a thin metallic oxide coating. The system is automatic in normal operation and indications of deviations in fluid level of the master tank beyond both predetermined minimum and maximum levels are provided by the monitoring apparatus and normal operation is then terminated.